Mysterious Romania (XIX) Romanian Stonehenge

Dear fans, followers and  visitors,

 You know my huge interest in all things paranormal, don’t you? Both reading and writing them. Like my paranormal novels Shadows of the Past and Till-Life-Do-Us-Part.

I  bring to your attention small articles about areas in Romania that have a connection with paranormal phenomena and mysteries that go back to ancient times and people. 

 So, even if it isn't  about books I hope to capture your attention today with post I had years ago but that I enlarged and added new elements

Sarmisegetuza

Sarmizegetusa Regia, or Sarmisegetusa, the real Dacian capital, is in the Orastie Mountains. It was  not only the capital, but also the most important military, religious and political center of the Dacians. On top of a 1,200 meter high mountain, the fortress was the core of the tragic king Decebalus’s strategic defensive system. It  comprises six citadels - Sarmizegetusa Regia, Costeşti-Cetăţuie, Costeşti-Blidaru, Piatra Roşie, Bănița and Căpâlna, „created in the 1st centuries BC and AD as protection against Roman conquest.” They  were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Many researchers compared the settlement with Stonehenge.

Illegal bounty hunters

Sarmizegetusa Regia was the capital of Dacia prior to the wars with the Roman Empire. Few of us visited the spiritual capital of the Dacians as the road to reach the place is very difficult. More often  only treasure hunters reach it. Gold coins, bracelets, swords, cult objects made of precious metals have been unearthed and  illegally taken over borders.   
Death brought by Dacian treasure
 This place is a source of legends and mystery. People speak about gold hidden by the ancestors in the mountains. The discovery of each treasure stirred people’s  imagination. A legend  speaks about a peasant who had a vision. A tall, white man told him to climb the maple tree near the pond. And from there he spotted a shining  rock. Going there the peasant discovered a hidden place full of gold. A gold table, a gold man and woman sitting at that table. He didn’t touch anything as he was afraid,  but he confessed about his vision to his priest. The man died, suddenly, the same day, and the treasure disappeared. It only stirred people’s desire to find it. Even the priest took part in the search, but the treasure vanished.  This happened around 1748. Some years later, another peasant found a high mound of gold coins. In fact his pigs, rummaging the leaves in the forest, brought  the coins to surface. 

 Sarmisegetuza was conquered by the Romans, after a long siege, in the 105 -106. The invaders destroyed the system of water pipes that brought water to the fortress and it was the only way to defeat the Dacians. Sarmisegetuza's fall equals the symbolic disappearance of a people and, for us Romanians, this dramatic story is like Troy's fall.

Portal to a better universe?

 Destroyed, robbed, forgotten, Sarmisegetuza still keeps the secret of  invaluable treasures. People say that here is the gate to an ideal world, of harmony and peace.  A portal linking this land to other universes. Only  people that reach the place with an open heart feel to be in communion with the divine power.

Have you ever visited the place? I have. But it was many years ago. Let me know what you think of it.

Mysterious Romania (XVIII) - New Year Customs and Traditions

Christmas is already over and New Year is soon on our threshold. Homes and stores are beautifully decorated . To Romanians, in general , - Christmas and New Year’s traditions and customs are very important!

Diverse, colorful and rich in symbols and meanings, these customs bring to the present glimpses of pre-Christian rituals and underline the predominant agrarian lifestyle from the past.

While traditionally in Romania Christmas is a day spent together with the family, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with friends or just staying at home and watching TV.

Romanians see New Year as a time when they should be passing on their ancient traditions, cultures, customs, and heritage to the future generation. This defines the rigorous following of traditions. New Year’s Eve is attributed a great importance. It is reflected in the saying “Do not let the year find you… because this is how your next year will be !”

For example, if the New Year catches you with a dirty home this is how your home will be for the entire next year.

It brings bad luck to enter into the New Year without any money in your pocket;  it's good to have money (especially new bills) in each wallet so on New Year’s Eve everybody is stuffing their pockets with money to ensure a prosperous new year.

If you have debts when entering the new year, you'll have debts all that year.

Be as noisy as possible at midnight on New Year's Eve to ward off the evil spirits (bells, firecrackers, etc.).

It's advised to dress in red on New Year's Eve.

Don't cry on the first day of the New Year. Wear something new on January 1st and do not break anything on the first day of the new year.

If you have the patience to watch the three youtube videos of some ancient customs here at New Year

In the morning of the New Year’s Eve when groups of children go from house to house performing “Plugusorul” (the little plow). Equipped with bells and  whips, the children  sing  a traditional song,  featuring some agrarian or historical myths. The main message being  health wishes for the hosts and rich crops for the year to come. In the evening of the same day, groups of adults, dressed in traditional clothes and playing musical instruments, perform “Plugul” (the big plow), even bringing a plow with horses or bulls in more traditional villages.

The most colorful New Year’s Eve traditions are the mask-dances, magical ceremonials of death and rebirth, with a variety of representations from the animal world like goats, horses or bears, and fictional characters like the devil.

A most spectacular mask-dance is the “dance of the bear”, an iconic animal for  Romania's forests. Symbolizing the death and rebirth of the New Year, the dance of the bear brings to the scene intricate costumes. The dance is usually accompanied by  drums music  that dictates the rhythm of the performance.

Another representative mask-dance is the “goat”  telling the story of powerful magical practices. These  have the power of resurrecting the animal after it was charmed, another symbol of the death and rebirth of nature. Usually, the goat mask is carved from wood, covered in fur, with a jaw that moves up and down and has horns from a real goat. The body of the goat is made out of a colorful carpet.

Wishing all my friends, fans, followers and fellow authors  endless joy and a peaceful, awesome 2017! 
                 May it be better than 2016!
          Happy Writing and Reading!

Mysterious Romania (XVI) Fall in my Country

While reading the post and watching the images, turn on the sound and listen to the Incredible Romania Ballad, written by, naturally, a famous Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu.

                     Enjoy!

                                      Downloaded from Youtube.

It’s true that Romania is the homeland of Count Dracula, the infamous vampire, but when you visit this country in autumn you are not only going to enjoy its imagery of medieval castles 

but also spectacular views of autumn’s finest foliage.

 Come to Romania to enjoy long walks in leafy parks dusted with crunchy auburn, red and gold leaves.

 Or visit the rural areas for a rustic experience and fill your lungs with the strong, fresh air in the mountains.

 It’s also hard not to feel starry-eyed among the rolling hills

 and fragrant vines of wine regions.